Xmas 2010 - Derby Market Hall

Xmas 2010 - Derby Market Hall a photo by Scouse_and_Jules on Flickr.

Motorhead!

Tilt Shift - Derby Bus Station

Tilt Shift - Derby Bus Station a photo by Scouse_and_Jules on Flickr.

An experiment with Tilt Shift processing using this tutorial www.visualphotoguide.com/tilt-shift-photoshop-tutorial-ho... This creates an almost dream like effect that looks like a photograph taken of a scale model.

Well the weather outside...

Is feckin' freezing, but full of photo oppourtunities.

So I have been experiment with some Lomographic effects on my Android phone.




Lomo Snow
Originally uploaded by Scouse_and_Jules

Pussy willow

Pussy willow
Originally uploaded by Scouse_and_Jules

It can be truly said Spring has sprung - four seasons in one day weather, sunshine , longer evenings and the roads are warming up nicely and a lot quicker!

Derby Festé 2009

Derby Feste 2009
Originally uploaded by Scouse_and_Jules

Last night we went into town to see the performance by Compagnie Transe Express - "Mobile Homme" which was part of the weekend long Derby Festé.

It was spectacular combination of Tambours becoming a human mobile and aerial gymnastics but almost impossible to photograph and video, while being jostled by the crowd in the market place. But we did get some excellent footage and images which we will share once we have gone through them and weeded out the crap ones :)

Pothholes - Update 1

Well I was amazed to find that the following reply landed in my Inbox within minutes of sending the message from FixMyStreet.com;

Thank you for your e-mail regarding potholes in the road.

I have forwarded this to our highways maintenance team.

Best regards

Paul
Derby Direct team

Another option is to go to the council direct...here

Let's see what happens next!

Potholes can kill...

So going into work today I saw a yoof on a scooter hit a new pothole and go into quite a spectacular "tank slapper".

Being on the house "ickle bike", the KLR250, I soaked the bumps up after hitting several new potholes, but it would have been very twitchy for Jules on the Speed Triple, and murderous in the wet.

So I have tried a website called FixMyStreet.com and reported the potholes with Derby Council so let's see what happens

Highways Agency installs additional safety measures for A52 Borrowash Bypass at Spondon, Derby

New traffic signs, safety barrier and an optical guidance system will be installed by the Highways Agency at the A52 Borrowash Bypass in Derby from Wednesday 11 March.

The measures to improve safety along the A52 will be put in place from the A6005 roundabout for 1.2 miles to Borrowash Road. These include new traffic signs, a 50mph advisory speed limit in both directions and an optical guidance system which utilises special reflectors placed on the barriers at the side of the road.

In addition, the eastbound section of safety barrier will have 200 metres of Bike Guard attached to the underneath of the existing barrier. Bike Guard is an extra rail under the existing safety barrier which helps protect cyclists and motorcyclists if they fall from their bike and hit the barrier. The existing safety barrier beams will be painted with alternate black and white chevrons.

There will be some lane and carriageway closures needed to complete this work. To make full use of the closures we will also carry out a second scheme at the same time to replace electrical cabling and carry out routine maintenance and inspections, minimising inconvenience to road users.

From Wednesday 11 March there will be overnight lane closures on the eastbound and westbound carriageways. On Monday 16 until 30 March the on slip from the Spondon roundabout to the A52 will be closed and local signed diversion routes will be in place between 8pm and 6am.

The A52 will be closed eastbound between 8pm and 6am on Monday 23 and Tuesday 24 March between the A6005 roundabout at Spondon and J25 of the M1 and westbound between 8pm and 6am on Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 March. There will also be a closure of the westbound A52 exit slip road at Spondon.

During the A52 closures the following overnight restrictions (8pm to 6am) will also apply:

* Overnight closures of Borrowash Road at its junctions with the A52
* Overnight closures of Victoria Avenue at its junctions with the A52
* Overnight closures of Cole Lane at its junctions with the A52
* Overnight closures of Manor Farm Access road at its junctions with the A52

Highways Agency project manager Kam Khokar said:

“This scheme will add additional safety measures to the A52 at the Borrowash Bypass at Spondon including advisory speed limit signs and an optical guidance system to help road users. Bike users will also benefit from the installation of the extra safety protection barrier on the eastbound carriageway.”

A clearly signed diversion route will be in place as follows:

* From J25 of the M1, A52 westbound traffic will be diverted onto Bostocks Lane, turn left and continue on the B5010 and A6005 Derby/Nottingham Road to rejoin the A52 Borrowash bypass via the A6005 roundabout at Spondon.

* A52 eastbound traffic will be diverted off the A52 immediately before the A5111 Raynesway to join the A6005 Derby Road. Traffic will continue along the A6005 and B M5010 Derby/Nottingham Road, turn right onto Bostocks Lane to rejoin the A52 at J25 of the M1.

* A5111 traffic travelling eastbound will be diverted over the A52 and right at the A6005 roundabout to join the main eastbound diversion.

Local diversions will also be clearly signed:

* Eastbound traffic for Lodge Lane North will be diverted onto the A6005 and exit on Willowcroft Road and onto Sitwell Street.

* Eastbound traffic on Stoney Lane will be diverted to the A6096 Moor Street/Dale Road/Moor Lane/Green Lane/Bare Lane and turn right onto Flood Street/Victoria Avenue to the A52.

* Westbound traffic on Borrowash Road, Victoria Avenue and Carr Lane will be diverted to join the main diversion route.

Original Post here http://www.fleetdirectory.co.uk/fleet-news/index.php/2009/03/09/highways-agency-installs-additional-safety-measures-for-a52-borrowash-bypass-at-spondon-derby/

Lichen

Is the air getting cleaner or is it to do with where things are ?

This photo was taken walking along a footpath just below the very busy slip road onto the A52 at the Wyvern in Derby.

Lichen cannot grow in any form of polluted air , but this is thriving while 5 metres above it lorrys and cars trundle past day in day out.

I like this little oasis between Sainsburys and the A52. Often I must get taken for a potential mugger or deviant as I stop and "loiter" to gaze at nature there.

In the past month I have seen pairs of Wrens,Goldcrests,Great Tits,Bearded Tits and Robins looking for nest sites and/or food. Added to the usual Blackbirds, Starlings and Sparrows that universally get ignored by the shoppers and staff who use this path.

I sometimes wonder if the folk who always moan and complain about the effect on nature of road building ever stop to see what happens in the little enclaves that these developments create. Me I find they can often raise the spirits on a dull day. I would love to hear of your opinions.

Urban Art

Cheered me up for some reason - just a bit of random graffiti, but it made me smile.

Summer thoughts

Sunshine at last ! First shadows I have seen this week , but does it have to be so windy ? The Jetstream is well knackered this year , and they say there is no Global warming yet...

Summer ?

Another grey august day

Morning Thought

Today is another summers day turned to autumn by Global Warming ?!?

Derby Peregrines

As residents of Derby we take great delight in our Peregrine Falcons nesting on the Cathedral.

Okay pigeon fanciers may not agree but the sight of these beautiful birds in the city is fantastic.

The only other place nearby we have seen them breeding is the quarry at Breedon on the Hill.

Go to http://derbyperegrines.blogspot.com/ for more info on this years brood and what has been found since they fledged.